Collecting apparatus for finely-divided solids.



L. s. MERRELL..

COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS.

' APPLICATION FLLE'D Alu-1.27. 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented 00L. 26, 1915.`

, I. S. MERRELL. COIQLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DIVID'E SOLIDS.

` APPLlcATIoN FILED AuG.21, |913.

Patented '00h 26, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l. S. MERRELL. COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DLVIDED SOLIDS.

ATloN FILED Aus.21,1913.

Patented Oct.. 26, 1915.

5 EEEEEEEEEEEE 3.

Y NRV m, 'I mln A WU I. S. MERRELL. COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR HNELY mvmEosoLms.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.27. 1913.

memd @01h26, 1915 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

l. S. MERRELL.

COLLECTING APPARATUS FOR FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS.

APPLICATION FILED AIIG.27. 1913.

" @ya A Patented 0st. 26, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' the State of y of one specic gravity or size,

RVING S. MERRELL, 0F SYBACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 MERRELL-SOULECOMPANY, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A- CORPORATIQN OF NEW YORK.

COLLECTJING APPARATUS FOR FINELY-DIVIIDED SOLIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented et. 28, 1915.

Serial No. 624,202. Divided and this application led August 27,

1913. Serial No. 786,870. a

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, IRVING S. Muurkrant, of Syracuse, in the county of0nondago, in New York, have invented new and useful'lmprovements inCollecting Alpparatus for Finely-Divided Solids, of which the following,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,and exact description.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in collectors for the finelydivided solids and 1s a division of my application Serial No. 624,202,filed April 29, 1'911, and while'capable of general employment, isparticularly designed for use in connection with apparatus forseparating in powdered form the constituent solids from the moisture, ofcomplex organic substances, such as milk, eggs, etc., a type of suchapparatus being illustrated in United States Patent No. 800,929, grantedJuly 23, 1907, to L. C. Merrell, W. B. Gere, and myself.

1n the separation of solids as contemplated by the patent abovereferredto,. especially in the case of milk powder, it is important that theelements of the resultant powder shall be thoroughly mixed to insureuniformity throughout the mass recovered; in other words, particles ofdi'erent specific gravity and of di'erent volume should be distributeduniformly throughout the lmass so as'to preclude one portion of the massbeing made upl almost wholly of particles while other portions of themass are constituted almost entirely by particles either lighter orheavier or of different size. For example, in the treatment of eggs, thepowder recovered should be such as to retain the solid elements of boththe yolks and whites in proper proportion, and not distributedseparately or variably through the mass, thus insuring uniformity to theproduct, and enabling the same tobe packaged without liability ofvariation in the contents of the packages. Likewise, in the case ofmilk, the butter fat and the heavy-,solids should be uniformlydistributed in substantially the proportions which theybear in the milkas it comes from the cow.

lt iSLtherefore, the main and primary object of the present invention toprovide a collector which in connection with the desiccating chamberwill recover edectually the andconstituent solids of liquids, the solidsbeing distributed inuniform relation, and insuring proper mixture in themass.

Furthermore, the invention aims to provide a construction of collectorwhich is small, simple and easy to operate, and which will permit thepowder, properly mixed with that falling in the desiccating chamber, tbbe readily collected at a single place through the agency of but asingle instrumentality.

Having these general objects in view', and others which will appear asthe nature of the improvements is better understood, the inventionconsists substantially in the novel construction, combination andarrangement of 'parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawingsFigure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of adust collector constructed in accordance with and embodyingtheprinciples of the present invention, the plane of section being onthe line 11, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional viewthereof on the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, thedesiccating chamber being partially broken-away. Fig. 4 is a sectionalplan view on the line 4--'4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view on theline 5-5, Fig. 2. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail elevations of the joggingmechanism for the bolting sleeves. Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 arediagrammatic views illustrating a cycle of operations of the air valvesthrough a predetermined period.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, 1 is a reservoir forreceiving the liquid to be treated. This liquid may be taken either froma concentrating chamber (not shown) in which event the liquid would bedrawn through a pipe 2 connected to the concentrator, and forced intothe reservoir 1 by means of a pump 3, or said liquid may be taken from adialyzing-vat 4, which vat is connected by a pipe 5 to the reservoir 1,and elevated at such a point as to feed the contents to the reservoir bygravity.

rl`he reservoir 1 is connected by a valved pipe 6 to a spray device 7,and said device discharges through an opening 8 Jformed in one wall of adesiccating chamber 9. A pump 10 is connected to the spray device 7 forsupplying the latter with air under pressure, thereby breaking up theliquid into a fine spray as it discharges into the desiccating chamber9, and said pump 1s also connected to a heatingchamber 11 which isdesigned to raisethe temperature of the air after it passes the pump.The flue 12, which is in communication with a heating chamber 13, thelatter also being connected to a pressure device 14, such as a fanblower, discharges into the opening 8 of the desiccating chamber 9, andconveys in large. volume to the latter the desiccating agent, which maybe atmosphere, air or other gaseous moisture absorbing medium includedhereinafter by the term air.

The foregoing construction is generally similar to the apparatus shownin United States Patent No. 860,929, previously mentioned, but thisconstruction forms no part of the novelty of the present invention,which resides in a novel form of collector for recovering the powderresulting from the, desiccation of the liquid being treated, and in therelation which said collector bears to the desiccating chamber. As aconvenient l9, Asuch communication is embodiment of the presentinvention, the desiccating chamber 9 is divided at one of its ends intoa pair` of bolting chambers 15 and 16, (Fig. 5) which chambers haveopenings at their lower ends, as illustrated in Figs. `1, and 2, andthereby communicates with the interior of the desiccating chamber 9.Spaced vertical lwalls 17, between which is arranged a horizontaldiaphragm orseptum 18, (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) provide laterally-disposed airchambers 19 and 20 beneath the diaphragm or septum 18, said chamberscommunicating, respectively, with the bolting chambers 15 and 16. Abovethe diaphragm or septum 18 an air outlet Chaniber 21 is provided, andsaid chamber communicates, through a pipe 22, with an eX- hauster 23,such as a suction fan.

The diaphragm 18 is provided with a pair of openings 24 and 25, (Figs. 4and 9) the former being arranged over the air chamber 19, and the latterover the chamber 20, and these openings are closed by air valves 26 and27 respectively, said valves seating upon the diaphragm, and cutting offcommunication periodically between the air chambers `19 and 20 and theoutlet chamber 21.

While the bolting chambers communicate with the interior of thedesiccating chamber afforded only through a plurality of openings 28-arranged in' the bottoms of said chambers, and surrounding each of saidopenings 28, and extending throughout the height of the bolting chamber,is a shaking screening or bolting sleeve 29, formed of bolting cloth orother material adapted for this purpose.

The upper end of each sleeve 29 is supported and closed, and thefunction of these sleeves is to ei'ect separation of the powder 'fromtheair, as will appear more fully hereinthese rings is provided chambers,each of said shafts being provided with a radially-arranged series oagitating or shaking rings 31, and said rings are suitably connected tothe shafts 30 and respond to the oscillatory movement thereof, asindicated at the right in Fig. 5. One of for each of the bolting sleeves29 and, eXteriorly surrounds the same, and hence, as the rings 31vibrate under the movement of the shafts 30, the bolting sleeves will beshaken, and any powder adhering thereto will be freed from the sleevesand will gravitate to the bottom of the chamber 9.

The air valves 26 and 27 are rovided with elongated stems 32 and 33,Figs. 1, 2 and 9) said stems projecting through the top of the outletchamber 21, and being surrounded at their upper ends by coiled springs34 which .act to lift the valves 26 and 27. These springs, therefore,tend to' unseat the valves 26 and 27. The upper end of each of the stems32 and 33`is also provided with a contact roller 35, each roller throughintermediate gearingl 37, with a' master gear 38 carried by a drivingshaft 39. Mounted upon the shaft 39 are two cams 40 and 41, (Figs. 1 and9) the cam 40 engaging the contact roller 35 of the valve 27, and thecam 41 'engaging the corresponding roller of the valve 26. These camsproject from the shaft 39 in diametrically opposite directions, and inthe operation of the driving shaft 39 said cams will actuate theirrespective valves at diierent periods. Consequently, the time of closingthe valve 26 is different from the time of closing the valve 27 and theflow of air from the two bolting chambers 15 and 16, therefore, will beinterrupted at different times.

Each group of bolting sleeves is shaken during the time when thecorresponding valve 26 or 27 is closed, and to the accomplishment ofthis end mechanism is provided to cause the appropriate shaft 30 tooscillate at such tlme. The illustrated mechanism comprises a mutilatedgear, 42 (Fig. 3) carried by the shaft 39, approximately onlyone-quarter of the circumference of this gear being provided with teeth,(Fig. 9) and said gear 42 meshes with a pinion 43 carried by a jackshaft 44, said shaft having a spur gear 45 which meshes with a pinion .Yried by the shaft 39, approximately only oneit 'g quarter of thecircumference ofy this gear being provided with teeth, (Fig. 9) and thisear meshes with a pinion 54 carried by va jack shaft. 55, said shafthaving a spur. gear a jogging shaft 58. lllhis shaft 58 also carries ajogging wheel 59 having aA sinuous cam groove 60, (Fig. 8) a bell-crank61 being operatively connected to the cove 60 of the wheel 59, and saidbell-cran 61 is connected to a link 62, the latter being also connectedto a crank 63 carried by the oscillatory shaft 30 of the other boltingchamber 15. lt is to be observed (Fig. 9) that the teeth of themutilated'gears 42 and 53 are arranged in diametrically oppositerelation, so that when one of these gears is actuating its joggingwheel, the 'ogging wheel of thev other gear is at rest. ence it will beseen that this construction causes the shaking of the group of boltingsleeves of one of the bolting chambers at a time when the boltingsleeves of the other chamber are at rest, and this shaking of thebolting sleeves of each chamber is timed to occur when its valve 26 or27 is invits closed position, and hence when there is no flow of airthrough the shaken sleeves.

Arranged within the lower end of the desici eating chamber 9, andextending throughout the length thereof, is an endless chain conveyer64, the same 4'being provided with scraper bars 65, and said bars travelalong the bottom of the chamber 9, forcing the precipitated powderedproduct in advance of the same, and depositing said product in thetrough 66 of a screw conveyer 67, throughthe medium of which latter thepowder is discharged from the chamber 9, through the discharge outlet68, which is throttled by a leather flap 69, which stops outflow of air.The conveyer 64 may be operated in any suitable manner.

ln the operationof the herein-described collector, the liquid is sprayedinto the desiccating chamber `9, where separation ofthe constituentsolids from the moisture takes place, and a portion of said solids, inthe form of powder, gravitates to the bottom of said chamber. the powershaft 36, the driving shaft 39-is given continuous rotation, therebycausing rotation of the cams 40 and 41, and also of Motion beingimparted to 4 ,.gthe mutilated gears 42 and 53. The engage- ,ment of thecam 40 lwith the stem of them vvalve 27 depresses said valve against thethe openings 24 and 25, when the respective valves 26 and 27 are open,and through the pipe 22, the powder, however, being caught by thesleeves 29. 1- When, however, one of the valves, say the valve 27, hasbecome seated, the flow of the air from the' corre- 56 which meshes witha pinion 57 carried by spending bolting chamber 16 is immediatelyinterrupted. Pressure conditions on the eX- terior of the boltingsleeves 29 of the chamber 16 now become equalized with the pressureconditions within said sleeves, and the latter hang limp. llmmediatelyupon closing the. valve 27, the mutilated gear 42 actuates, through theintermediate gear connections, the jogging wheel 48, and this imparts tothe shaft 30 within the chamber 16 a series of quick oscillations orvibrations, whereupon the rings 31 act upon their respective sleeves/29to shake the latter, and thereby free the sleeves of the powderdeposited upon the interior thereof. The powcam 40 from the stem of thevalve 27, the

teeth of the gear 42 become disengaged from the teeth of the pinion 43,and as the valve 27 opens the shaking of the bolting sleeves 29 of the.chamber 16 ceases.

The operation of the valve 26 and the bolting sleeves 29 of the otherbolting chamber 15 is similar to the operation just described, but, byreason of the timing of the movement of the cam 41, the mutilated gear53, and the gear connections between the latter and the jogging wheel59, the sleeves 29 of the chamber 15 are shaken at a different periodfrom the shaking ofthe sleeves 29 of the chamber 16. Hence, the shakingof the sleeves of the respective chambers occurs in alternatesuccession, and likewise the closing of the valves 26 and 27.

ln Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 is illustrated a cycle of `operations of thevalves 26 and 27, the latter, the cams controlling the same, and themutilated gears which operate the jogging mechanism of the boltingsleeves being shown diagrammatically. The cycle illustrated in theligures in question covers a vperiod of one minute', and each of theviews` (illustrates the position of the valves during a period offifteen seconds. In Fig. 9, therev fore, which covers thefirst quarterof the 130 minute, the valves 26 and 27 are-both open. The` air isdischarging through these valves from the air chambers 19 and 20 intothe outlet chamber 21, and the powder which passes up into the sleeves29 with the air is being caught by both groups of boltinsleeves. In Fig.10 the valve 26 is still open, l ut the valve 27 is closed, the positionof the valves in Fig. 10 being that assumed by them during the secondquarter of the minute. With the valve, 27 closed, the ow of air throughthe bolting chamber 16 is interrupted, and the sleeves 29 of thatchamber are being shaken, but the air is still passing from the chamber-15 into the outlet chamber 21, and separation of the powder from the airis being eiected by the sleeves 29 of the chamber 15.

In Fig. 11, which coversthe third quarter of the minute, the valve 27again has become opened, so that there is no interruption to the passageof the air fromthe desiccating chamber through both of the boltingchambers, and separation of the powder 1s being effected in both ofthese chambers. In Fig. 12, however, which covers ,thev last quarter ofthe minute, the valve 26 has become closed, and the bolting sleeves ofthe chamber 15 are being agitated to free the same of the powder whichhas accumulated thereon. rIhe valve 27 being open, air is passing fromthe chamber 16 to the outlet boX 21, and separation of the powder fromthe air is continuing to be eected by the bolting sleeves of the chamber1.6.1

- off by said valves.

From the foregoing it will be seen that during each minute of theoperation of the machine each of the valves 26 and 27 is open for aperiod of forty-five seconds and closed the remaining period of fifteenseconds; that said valves are closed in alternation with each other, andnever simultaneously closed, but that during the rst and third -quartersof the c cle the valves are both open, permitting ee passage of the airfrom the respective bolting chambers through the air outlet box, andeffecting simultaneous separation ofthe powder in both chambers from theair as the latter.. passes on to the fan 23. The air from thedesiccating chamber 9 may always find an exit through one or the otherof the bolting chambers, and during a portion of each cycle of movementof the valves the air may pass through both of the bolting chamberssimultaneously.

Certain of the described characteristics .are of especial value andimportance.,

At no time are all of the outlet valves closed, so that the flow of airthrough the desiccating chamber is never completely out Consequentlythere is no interruption in the continuity of the spraying anddrying.

Thedry powder partly falls directly and initially to the bottom o' thedesiccating 'and closing said valves,

chamber; while the remainder is caughtby the screening or boltingdevices. The portion of the powder caught by the screens is shaken backinto the desiccating chamber falling onto its bottom and is intermingledwith that which is deposited directly in the desiccating chamber. Theendless conveyer 64, travels across the desiccating chamber beneath thefalling shower of powder which does not enter the collector thusinsuring complete intermixture. 'Ihe powder deposited onto the floor ofthe desiccating chamber is drawn along the Hoor to the trough 66, whichis at the coolest part of the desiccating chamber, so that there is noburning of the powder at the place where itl longest remains beforefinal discharge. All of the powder is removed from the desiccatingchamber through a single discharge koutlet 68, in a thoroughlyintermiXed mass in which all of the ingredients are uniformlydistributed.

The collecting chambers are stationary so that the powder shaken fromtheir contained screens or bolts falls directly back into thedesiccating chamber. No current of vair is flowing through a collectingchamber when the powder falls therethrough.

Since the collecting Achambers are stationary, the operating mechanismis simple and all parts requiring lubrication are accessible and outsideof the powder laden air current.

What I claim is:

l. In 'a collecting device, a pair .of bolting chambers, a boltingdevice associated with each chamber, an upper and a lower intermediatechamber, the lower intermediate chamber having a partition dividing thesame into a pair of air chambers communicating respectively with thebolting chambers, separate means of communication between each of theair chambers and the upper intermediate chamber, separate valvescontrolling such respective means of communication, means foralternately opening and means for agitating the bolting device of eachchamber only when the communication of its respective chamber is cut oi'from the upper intermediate chamber.

2. In a collecting device, a pair of bolting chambers, a bolting deviceassociated with each chamber, an upper and a lower intermediate chamber,the lower intermediate chamber, having a partition dividing the sameinto a pair of air chambers communicating respectively with the boltingchambers, separate means of communication between each of the airchambers and the 'upper intermediate chamber, separate valves ilo l 3.ln a collecting device, a pair of bolting chambers, a bolting deviceassociated With each chamber, an upper and a lower intermediate chamber,the lower intermediate chamber having a partition dividing the same intoa pair of air chambers communieating respectively with the boltingchambers', separate means Of communication between each of the airchambers and the it upper intermediate chamber, separate valvescontrolling such respective lmeans of communication, means foralternately opening and closing sa1d valves, and an air outlet from theupper mtermedate chamber.

ln witness whereof-I have hereunto set my 15 hand this 31st day Of July1913.

ravine MERRELL.

Witnesses: v

E. A. THOMPSON, VIOLA HOWLAND.

